Falkland Islands - Sovereignty Dispute

Sovereignty Dispute

Although the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization includes the Falkland Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, it has been asserted that the Falkland Islands is one of 16 territories which have too small a population "to survive as viable, fully independent state." Both the United Kingdom and the Argentine governments claim responsibility for the islands. The United Kingdom bases its claim on continuous administration of the islands since 1833 (apart from the Argentine military occupation in 1982) and the islanders’ "right to self determination, including their right to remain British if that is their wish". Argentina claims that it acquired the islands from Spain when Argentina became independent in 1816 and that in 1833 the United Kingdom, using a threat of "greater force", expelled the Argentine authorities from the islands. The islanders reject the Argentine sovereignty claim.

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